This is in contrast to his reputation as “narrow-minded”, “stern”, and “dour”, a conservative who “would return the Catholic Church to its theological roots, accepting a smaller church if it was more ideologically pure.”

Instead, delighted reporters have observed a man whose views are “broader and more outward-looking” than he had shown in the past.

Translation: Conservative bad, liberal good.

A Baptist preacher I know likes to say that the trouble with being open-minded is that it makes it easier for your brains to fall out.